In January 2026, Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, began testing Auracast™ broadcast audio, a new Bluetooth® capability, as part of a pilot at two gates. The initiative makes Frankfurt the first airport worldwide to transmit all gate announcements directly to passengers’ own hearing aids, earbuds, or smartphones, instead of relying only on loudspeaker announcements. Initiatives such as this illustrate how innovation in hearing tech can make public spaces more accessible and inclusive. When accessibility is integrated into mainstream infrastructure, it supports fuller participation for people with hearing loss and enhances the overall usability of public environments for everyone.
Making announcements accessible to more people
Public address systems are a critical source of information in transport hubs, yet they are often difficult to understand due to background noise, poor acoustics, or language barriers. For people with hearing loss, this can result in missed information and reduced confidence when navigating busy environments.
By delivering announcements straight to personal devices, users have to rely less on loudspeaker systems that are often affected by background noise or poor acoustics. This improves access to information for hard-of-hearing passengers.
The system also supports multilingual audio streams, enabling users to select announcements in their preferred language. In an international travel hub such as Frankfurt Airport, this feature has clear benefits not only for people with hearing loss, but also for a wider group of passengers. EHIMA sees this as an example of how accessibility-focused solutions can deliver broader societal benefits when designed inclusively.
From innovation to real-world use
Interoperability and easy usability are essential if inclusive audio solutions are to be adopted widely and deliver real-world impact. Auracast™ is compatible with various technical protocols and a wide range of devices. Android and Apple devices can receive the streams directly on the smartphone, and the information can be played through compatible hearing devices or headphones. QR codes displayed at the gates allow passengers to connect directly to the relevant audio stream, bypassing complex menus and connecting instantly. This approach is particularly important for people who may be less familiar with digital technologies.
Inclusive infrastructure and participation
The pilot run at Frankfurt Airport illustrates how technology in hearing health can be integrated into mainstream public infrastructure, supporting independent mobility and participation for people with hearing loss. Digital audio solutions improve accessibility in environments that are often challenging even for people without hearing difficulties.
EHIMA is encouraged to see initiatives that embed accessibility into the design of public spaces, rather than treating it as an add-on. When inclusive communication solutions are implemented at scale, they help enable people with hearing loss to participate more fully in everyday activities, from travel and work to social and cultural life.
Looking ahead
While still a pilot, the Frankfurt Airport implementation provides a tangible example of how collaboration between researchers, public authorities, infrastructure operators, and technology providers can translate innovation into practical solutions. It also highlights the potential of Auracast™ to play a growing role in accessible public communication across Europe.
EHIMA continues to advocate for hearing health and accessibility to remain high on the public agenda. Initiatives such as this demonstrate how technology, when thoughtfully implemented, can contribute to more inclusive societies and help ensure that people with hearing loss are not excluded from essential public information.
